Lamp-socket



c. 1. KLElN.

V LAMP SOCKET.

APPLICATION FILED JAN- 9, I9I5.

1,378,467, Patented May17,1921.

sockets.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEABLES I. KLEIN, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR TO THE CUTLER- m. ('10., 0E IILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION OF WISCONSIN.

Be it known that I, CHARLES KLEIN a citizen of the United btates, residing at M waukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State .of Wisconsin, have invented new and useful Improvements in Lamp-Sockets, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification. y

This invention relates to electric lamp One of the objects of the invention is to simplify the construction of lamp sockets and reduce the manufacturing cost thereof. Another object is to provide an improved lamp socket having a unitary casing to receive an insulating base and conducting shellthrough its open end and having auto aticmeans to releasably support the incased parts when inserted. 1

A further object is to provide an improved and simplified lamp socket of the type having a push button operated switch mechanism.

Other objects and advantages will appear hereinafter. v The accompanying drawing illustrates certain typical embodiments of the inven tion and depicts in,

Figure 1 an exploded elevational view of a lamp socket. Fig. 2, an elevational view of the socket. cFasingat right angles to the sameshown in i .1. v 1* ig. 3, a plan view of the switch supporting base with a detail of the switch.

ig. 4, an elevational. view of the casing insulating lining at right angles to the same shown in Fig. 1.

ig. 5, an elevational view partially in section of. the assembled socket disposed 3 fied orm' of keyless socket, and

within a fixture husk.

Fig. 6, a side View of a modified socket of a keyless type.

Fig. 7 a shadow view of the incased parts of. Fig. 6. v Fi 8, a sectional view of a further modi- Fig. 9, a sectional view onthe line 99 of Fig. 8.

Referring more specifically to the drawing, there. are shown in Fig. 1 a unitaigy metallic casingA, a fiber insulating (llSk LAMP -SOCKET.

1,378,467. Specification 01' Letters Patent. Patented Ma 17, 1921. 7 Application fi led January 9, 1915. Serial No. 1,337.

To all whomz'tmay concern! :a screw shelland socket-supporting base C, and a fiber sleeve D to line the casing A and to .function as hereinafter set forth. I

The casing A, as illustrated, comprises a. one piece metal drawing having a substantially cylindrical body portion 1 with spaced heads 2, 3, oppositely disposed switch button apertures 4, and having a contracted end portion 5 to which is secured a threaded bushing 6- for attaching the socket to the fixture and foracconimodating the current supply wires. The casing thus possesses increased rigidity and strength since its integral structure eliminates the separable and weak connection between the sections of multi-part casings. Furthermore, its man-u- The insulating disk B comprises an apertured dome portion having a marginal flange 7 and is adapted to line the casing end 5 with said flange abutting an interior ledge 8.

.facture is simplified since all sectional inter locking means are also eliminated.

The part C constituting the works of the detachable push 17 cut away at the grooves 15 and provided with. rectangular lugs 18 above the push buttons. The fiber sleeve D is of a diameter to encircle snugly the works C and thus im-' pose an insulating barrier-between the metal casing and the metal socket parts. Marginal slots 19 are provided on opposite sides of the sleeve D to accommodatethe switch push buttons 12, 13 and. the base projectionslS. At right angles to said slots, integral lugs 20 are also provided to fit the cut away portions of the base flange 7, so that said base is supported by and held against rotation relative to the'sleeve.

The casing A is a'dapted to receive throu h its open end the disk B, the works C and the sleeve D; the. switch push buttons 12 and 13 being temporarily removed for this purpose. Moreover, the incased parts are all supported against displacementwithin the casing through the 1 medium of, an automatic interlock between said. casing and the sleeve. As illustrated this interlock is effected between a resilient catch 21 and the casing walls about an aperture 22 provided in the casing bead 2. Said catch is preferably arranged at the lower extremity of a metal stamping 23 attached to the insulating lining D by any suitable means. In Fig. 4 the stamping is shown as provided with an open slot coinciding with one of the key slots 19 in the sleeve and with inturned lugs 24 to abut the sides of said slot. A band 25 is wrapped about the lining and clamps the stamping 23 thereto by its ends 26 which are overturned through slots 27. As both the stain )ing 23 and the band 25 are of thin metal the gross thickness of the insulating lining is not noticeably increased.

When the parts are assembled it is apgarent that the base 16 supports the disk the sleeve D and its parts support the works C, and the catch 21 automatically interlocks with the cut edges about the easing opening 22 to lock all the incased parts both against removal from and relative rotation within the casing A. The presence of the insulating lining D is thus insured. The push buttons 12 and 13 are then in sert-ible through the casing apertures 4 for connection with the switch member 11. While. of course, said push buttons. might be utilized to hold the incased parts'against relative rotation I prefer to attain this result by theinterlock described which maintains said buttons out of contact with the sides of the apertures 4 and thus avoids any wear between the same.

The push buttons 12, 13 are preferably provided with reduced shanks 28 and 29 respectively which fit within resilient split clamping fingers 30 and 31 integral with the switch actuating part 11. and 31 are also provided with. indented lugs 32'for snapping into circumferential grooves 33 in the push button shanks and thus detachably holding these parts together. Furthermore, as the push buttons are commonly colored distinctively to visually indicate the circuit condition of the switch mechanism I preferably make the push button shanks 28 and 29.0f unequal diameters and the clamps 30 and 31 of corresponding diameters, so that each push button will accurately fit only one end of the switch actuating member and incorrect attachment of the push buttons .is thus insured against. I

- In conn'ectingthe socket to a fixture with- I in a husk 34 (Fig. 5), the casing may be first screwed to the fixture nipple and there? after incased parts C and D readily inserted through the open end of the casing. The push buttons 12 and 13 may then be laterally inserted through suitable apertures in the husk andthe casing apertures 4. Separation of the parts similarly. may be readily Said clamps 30 effected by removal of the push buttons and disengagement of the catch 21 from the easing aperture 22. It is to be noted that the location of said interlocking parts adjacent the open end of the casing renders the same easily accessible for disengagement. It is also to be noted that the wiring of the deviceis simplified since; the unitary casing enables complete withdrawal of the socket parts and complete exposure of the binding posts with minimum efiort and delay.

In the form of device shown in Figs. 6 and 7, the lamp socket is without a switch mechanism and accordingly is of decreased longitudinal dimension. The insulating lining D in this form is provided with a metal stamping 35 which carries at its ex- 2, into any one of which the catch 21 isadapted to snap. Thus the rotary position-i ing of the incased parts may be readily altered if desired without disturbing the attachment ofthe casing to the fixture.

The socket shown in Fig. 8 utilizes a molded insulation block 39 to iuclose the screw shell 10 and support the socket terminals. Thus a separate insulating lining for the easing is rendered unnecessary and the interlocking means to support the incasedparts are arranged between the open end of said casing and said molded block 39. As illustrated the casing is provided with oppositely disposed portions 40 slightly inturned below short cuts in the metal and having their extremities disposed in opposite directions. The insulating base 39 is -likewise provided with limited recesses 41 on opposite sides to receive said casing lugs 40 whereby the incased parts are held against withdrawal and relative rotation. To facilitate assembly the V a substantially cylindrical inclosing shell' 16 contracted at one end, of a lamp socket fitting insertible in said shell through the open end thereof, one of said elements having a resilient catch to coiiperate with ashoulder on the other for locking of said elements in assembled relation and against relative rotation and said catch having a part adjacent to the open end of said shell whereby it may be actuated to release said fitting.

2. In a lamp socket, the combination with a substantially cylindrical inclosing shell contracted at one end,ofa screwshelllamp socket fitting insertible in said shell through the open end thereof and means, including an insulating sleeve insertible between said fitting and said inclosing shell, to secure the former within the latter and to further secure the former against rotation relative to the latter, said sleeve being separable from said fitting.

3. In a lamp socket, the combination with a substantially cylindrical inclosing shell contracted at one end, of a screw shell lamp socket fitting and an inclosing insulating sleeve therefor, said fitting and said sleeve being 'insertible in said shell through the open end thereof and a spring catch fixed to said insulating sleeve and coiiperable with a shoulder on said shell to support said sleeve and fitting in said shell, said catch being interposed between said sleeve and said shell and having. a part adjacent to the open end of the latter whereby it may be actuated for disengagement from the shoulder of said shell.

4. In a lamp socket, the combination with *a screw shell lamp socket fitting, of an insulating sleeve to surround and support said fitting and to interlock therewith for prevention of relative rotation, a spring catch fixed to said insulating sleeve exterior-1y thereof, and an inclosing shell to receive said fitting, said sleeve and said catch having a shoulder to be engaged by the latter to lock said elements therein and to lock said sleeve against rotation within said shell, said catch having a part adjacent to the open end of said shell whereby it may be actuated for disengagement from said shoulder. 7

5. In a lamp socket, the combination with a substantially cylindrical inclosing shell contracted at one end, and provided with diametrically opposed openings, of a lamp socket fitting including a switch mechanism having axially alined detachable push buttons, said fitting upon detachment of said push buttons being insertible in the open end of said shell and means to lock said fitting within said shell but only when in a given relation thereto whereby the push buttons may be inserted through said openings of said shell and attached to said fitting.

6. A push button operated switch, for inclosure in lamp socket shells andthe like, comprising a switch mechanism including a reciprocable member, and a push button for actuating said member, one of the last two mentioned elements having resilient parts to grip the other and permitting attachment and detachment of said push button by push and pull movements respectively,

7. A push button operated switch for inclosure in lamp socket shells and the like, comprising a switch mechanism including a reciprocable member, and a pair of opposed push buttons for actuating said member, said member having spring parts to grip said push buttons and permitting attachment and detachment. of the latter by push and pull movements respectively, said gripping parts insuring against reversal of said push buttons relative to said member.

8. In a lamp socket, the combination with an integral inclosing shell substantially closed at one end and having its opposite end open, of a lamp socket fitting having an insulating base, screw-shell andcentercontact, lamp terminals mounted on, the sides of said base, and a single piece insulating sleeve surrounding and inclosing said screw shell and the portion of said base carrying said wire terminals, said fitting and said sleeve being insertible through the open end of said shell.

9. In a lamp socket, the combination with an inclosing shell, of a switch mechanism including a member adapted to be reciprocated for operation of the switch and having its extremities terminating within the contour of said switch mechanism and a push button for actuating said member, said member and said button having parts adapted to resiliently interlock for permitting attachment and detachment of said push button and said member by push and pull movements respectively of the latter,

and means independent of said latter men- 1 tioned parts for releasably securing said switch mechanism within said shell While relieving said parts or" the support of said switch mechanism.

10. In a lamp socket, in combination, an

said base, wire terminals fixed to the sides scribed my name in the presence of two witof said lbase adia'cent to saida'g'movesd a'nd nesses. an insu ating s eew'e surroun ing an inelosing said screw shell and the portion of RL KLEIN 5 said base carrying said wire terminals, said Witnesses:

sleeve abutting said shoulders on said base. H. WATSON,

In witness whereof I have hereunto sub- Tsm BAs'r. 

